Afghanistan War Mission Statement and Exit Strategy

Commentary by Orion Karl Daley
Balanced Party Candidate for Election 2008

B-3: Afghanistan: Be assured thet we, the US should declare war on this country. This is though after every option for peace has been exhausted, even when factions such as Al Qaeda, with the Taliban's help had demonstrated an Act of War on the US on 9/11/2001. Just throwing military might in an open ended manner can only lead to untold costs.

But when the US Congress declares war, it can only be when a mission statement and exit strategy are clearly defined by the Executive Branch. This is necessary, as Congress in compliance qith Article I in the US Constitution, is to be solely responsible for raising and supporting our military.
    In this manner, the government has a basis for asking for the ultimate sacrifice from American families. It cannot be a panacia, it cannot be protected from our news system, it cannot hide the costs. It must call for the commitment of our people who must be fully informed of the mission statement and the exit strategy.

    The Mission Statement and Exit Strategy are to be brought to the UN after the formal declaration of War as in assuming that working through the UN on options for peace were exhausted. The UN may, or may not join American forces. Regardelss, our commitment is to remain when making a formal declaration of war.
B-3.1: Mission Statement: In terms of Afghanistan, Kebbal must be the first location to be occupied by military forces. From this point on, we must deliver any force necessary to eradicate the enemy; or to achieve their capitulation and surrender. Prior to ground force deployment in the surrounding regions, once Kebbal is occupied by our/coalition military forces, the Afghan people are to be notified of imminent danger, and to evacuate their area.
    Informed by flyer dropped from the air, the people are to report to Kobbel for their health, safety, and welfare. If not, they have been warned.

    Afghanistan is to be zoned for heavy bombardment. This bambardment is to include the use of antiquated ordinance as well. Although not as affective as bunker busters,the effect is to raddle the enemies will. Afghanistan can be divided into perhaps 20 zones. Zones are to be prioritized through intelligence of enemy presence.

    As each zone is leveled, ground forces may enter and occupy it. If resistance is met, bombardment is to repeated. Our interest is not to see our ground forces make needless sacrifice.

    Our Department of Defense, CIA and any other agency or government department is not to act individually or on their own accord. Direction is to only be provided by the war cabinet that is actively directed by the commander and chief. This is not to say that theater military and intelligence, or the 'boots on the ground' do not have a better view, but their actions are to be coordinated such that they are fully supported by the War Cabinet for the balle in question.This is to avoid how the Bush administration fumbled as an example in Tora Bora.

B-3.2 Exit Strategy: I see two exit strategies that could prevail. In either, it is the US State Department under the active direction of the Executive Branch that is to conduct peace management, while the military returns home in manner that is proportional to the need of their presence in the region.
    Exit Strategy 1: Given that Elections could occur as they did, but where their president is recognized for being more that the Mayor of Kebbal, the US State Department, with the help of the UN, is to assist the newly formed Afghan government toward a road to sovereignty. Foreign Aid and Military Aid are to be provided pursuant to polices note to be through the UN only. As economic development is needed to sustain and evolve a government's effectiveness in the management of a country, agriculture can take on a new meaning instead of the opium poppy. In fact, I would expect that the region could eventually embrace the textile industry, and manufacturing. How this is to be related to trade with the US must be in compliance with Balance Trade Policies.

    Exit Strategey 2: In the event that a government cannot be established through the will of a surrendered people who have waged war on the United States, they are to become annexed.